Dolly for canister type cleaners



Oct. 30, 1951 J. YoNKl-:Rs

DOLLY FOR CANISTER TYPE CLEANERS Filed March 27, 1950 UU UUUUUUUUU 1 NWI u Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED y STATES PATENT OF FICE DoLLY Foa cANIs'rER TYPE CLEANERS John L. Yonkers, Northbrook, Ill.

Y Application March 27, 195o, 'serial No.152m2 (cieco- 61) `3 Claims. l

This invention relates to a dollyfor household appliances and particularly for canister type cleaners. Canister type cleaners generally have a cylindrical dirt receiving pail with a flexible hose leading from the'sideV or top of the cleaner. Cleaners are usually dragged around by pulling on the hose. Because'ofthe hose and the location of the electric motor and suction generating means, such devices aregenerally top-heavy and when' moved may be tipped.

This invention provides a dolly vwhich may be readily applied to or removed from a cleaner and which, When used, will permit the cleaner to be moved around readily with little eiort while maintaining the cleaner in suitable position.

The dolly embodying the present invention is simple and inexpensive to tool for manufacturing the same in quantity. Furthermore, the dolly construction embodying this present invention is mechanically simple enough so that the average housewife may readily use it.

In order that the invention may be understood, reference will now be made to the drawing wherein Figure 1 shows a plan View of a dolly embodying the present invention supporting a canister type cleaner. Figure 2 is a perspective View of a dolly embodying the present invention. Figure 3 is a sectional detail upon line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional detail upon line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure l, any type of canister cleaner, such as the one shown, may be used in connection with the dolly embodying the present invention. Thus the cleaner shown in Figure 1 comprises generally cylindrical dirt container pan having flexible hose I I coupled by suitable means to the side of container I0. Means t2 may consist of a detachable coupling whereby the hose may be readily detached from or attached tothe dirt containing pail. Resting upon top of pail II) is assembly I 5 consisting of an electric motor and suction generating means and suitable dust filtering means. This assembly may be retained on pail In by clamp I6. The cleaner is provided with handle I'I for handling or lifting.

For further details of a suction cleaner with which the dolly embodying the present invention may be used, reference may be made to Patent 2,198,568 of Yonkers.

In order to render the cleaner shown in Figure 1 readily movable and to provide a broader base upon which the cleaner may be supported, a dolly, generally indicated by numeral 20, may be provided. This dolly consists of a generally circular band of spring metal such as steel 2| having overlapping ends and riveted together at 22 and 23. As is evident in Figure -2, band-2 I is formed generally cylindrical in shape about a Vertical axis.

Disposed at spaced points, here showny asy four, arelca-sters 25 to 28 inclusi-ve. Each caster may be of conventional construction, consisting of roller 33. supported on-pin-3| in yoke 32. Yoke 32 isfcarried by vertical pin-33. Each caster is supported in a fixture generally indicatedfby numeral 35. Each fixture-V is preferably of `sheet-steel or the like and consists of vertical portions 36 and 31 joined by horizontal portions 38 and 39. Spaced upwardly from portion 39 is generally U-shaped member 40 extending down between the bottom portions of 36 and 31. Portions 39 and 4I) are apertured and support socket 4I vertically within which caster posts 33,may be disposed. In accordance with usual practice, socket 4I may have the usual means for locking caster post 33 against falling out. Socket 4I has rubber Washer 42 for spacing the socket head from portion 39.

Portions 39 and 31 of the xture have extensions 43 and 44 going downwardly of the caster as a whole and inwardly of metal band 2 I. These two supporting iingers are suitably apertured and have rubber pad 45 disposed therein in any suitable fashion. Thus pad 45 may have button shaped portion 46 adapted to be crowded into the apertures of the feet.

Portion .il of the fixture is apertured at one or more places and provided with rubber buttons 53 and 5I. The entire caster part is riveted to band 2I at 52.

Disposed over band 2l is molded rubber cover 55. This cover may be pulled over band 2l prior to riveting and provides a nished appearance.

As is evident from the drawings, a cleaner may be forced downwardly into the dolly and be frictionally engaged thereby to maintain the cleaner in position. By having four casters, stability of the cleaner is assured. In the event that it is desired to empty the cleaner of its dirt content, the entire cleaner may be readily removed from the dolly if desired, or the cleaner may be retained in the dolly indefinitely and otherwise handled in a normal manner. It is clear that the dolly may be safely used in a home without damage to furniture.

The generally circular band of spring steel is preferably distorted out of round somewhat, generally not enough to be readily recognizable by the eye. This makes it possible not only for a cleaner pan to be pushed down into position but also allows for substantial manufacturing toler- 3 ances in the diameter of the pan. Any wear on rubber pads 5B and 5| will also be taken up. The i'lt of the band around a pan may be adjusted by distorting the shape of band 2|.

What is claimed is:

1. A dolly for supporting a canister type cleaner or the like, said dolly comprising a generally circular band of flat spring metal, said band having its lateral dimension vertical in the normal use of the dolly, a plurality of xtures carried by said band, each fixture having a flat strip 0f metal bent to provide two generally parallel vertical portions with at least one horizontal portion between said two vertical portions, means for rigidly securing one vertical portion on the circular band with the flat face of said one vertical portion being disposed against the flat face of the circular band at the region of attachment, said other vertical portion being inwardly spaced from the rst vertical portion toward the center of said circular band, said xture having a at strip extending downwardly and inwardly from the bottom of one of said vertical portions and terminating in a supporting portion for the bottom of a canister, and means supported by the horizontal portion of said fixture for supporting said dolly on a floor, said last named means providing a small region of contact with the floor so that said dolly may be moved easily along a door,

said fixtures being disposed at spaced intervals around said circular band, said other portion of each xture being adapted to engage the outside of the canister.

2. The dolly according to claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the dolly comprises a caster.

3. The dolly according to claim 1, wherein the other vertical portion and the downwardly and inwardly extending portion contacting the canister sides and bottom are provided with rubber pads on the inside faces thereof where the canister is contacted.

JOHN L. YONKERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date 290,759 Eberhard Dec. 25, 1883 973,029 Froese Oct. 18, 1910 1,200,954 Lawlor Oct. 10, 1916 1,628,722 Haertel May 17, 1927 2,291,984 Ponselle Aug. 4, 1942 2,345,381 Chenette L r Mar. 28, 1944 2,386,489 McKellar Oct. 9, 1945 2,531,131 Johnson Nov. 21, 1950 

